foolsgold
Bluelighter
A partially-sighted Garnant man has told a court he “found” a bag containing illegal drugs.
Andrew Collins, of 9 Maes y Bedol, said he believed the 82 tablets were valium – instead they were the Class C drug phenazapam.
Llanelli magistrates were told the stash was only discovered during a routine search when the 49-year-old was arrested and taken to the police station following a row with his wife.
Ellie Morgan, prosecuting, described how officers had been called to the couple’s home at 7.45pm on March 27 after reports of a heated argument at the property.
“When the police arrived outside they could hear him shouting and swearing,” Ms Morgan told the court. “He was very irate.”
Collins was warned about his behaviour by officers but ignored pleas to calm down.
“He was asked to leave the property to diffuse the situation, but he refused,” said Ms Morgan.
Collins was eventually arrested to prevent a breach of the peace and taken to Llanelli police station.
“Once in custody he was subjected to a routine search,” said Ms Morgan.
“Hidden in his underwear was a bag containing the tablets.”
In interview, he told police he had found the bag and assumed the drugs were the anti-depressant valium.
“He said he had them for about 48 hours,” Ms Morgan told the court.
Magistrates were told Collins had been made the subject of a conditional discharge for cannabis possession on October 2012.
“He has been suffering from anxiety and depression for the last 12 years,” said defence solicitor Stephen Howells, “and is subject to panic attacks.”
Mr Howells described how Collins had also struggled to deal with the aftermath of being subjected to a brutal assault in his home four years ago which had left him requiring four operations and saw the removal of his pancreas and spleen.
He said Collins had been prescribed anti-depressants which had done little to address his problems.
“On this occasion he came into possession of these tablets which he thought were something else,” said Mr Howells.
“They calmed him down and controlled his panic attacks.
“The use of these drugs was primarily in terms of trying to alleviate these symptoms.”
Mr Howells said that since the offence, Collins had been prescribed more effective medication.
Collins pleaded guilty to possessing the Class C drug.
Magistrates fined him £40 for possession of phenazapam and a further £40 for breach of a conditional discharge.
Collins was also ordered to pay £80 court costs and a further £20 legal surcharge.
http://www.southwalesguardian.co.uk...lly_sighted_man__found__bag_of_drugs/?ref=rss
Andrew Collins, of 9 Maes y Bedol, said he believed the 82 tablets were valium – instead they were the Class C drug phenazapam.
Llanelli magistrates were told the stash was only discovered during a routine search when the 49-year-old was arrested and taken to the police station following a row with his wife.
Ellie Morgan, prosecuting, described how officers had been called to the couple’s home at 7.45pm on March 27 after reports of a heated argument at the property.
“When the police arrived outside they could hear him shouting and swearing,” Ms Morgan told the court. “He was very irate.”
Collins was warned about his behaviour by officers but ignored pleas to calm down.
“He was asked to leave the property to diffuse the situation, but he refused,” said Ms Morgan.
Collins was eventually arrested to prevent a breach of the peace and taken to Llanelli police station.
“Once in custody he was subjected to a routine search,” said Ms Morgan.
“Hidden in his underwear was a bag containing the tablets.”
In interview, he told police he had found the bag and assumed the drugs were the anti-depressant valium.
“He said he had them for about 48 hours,” Ms Morgan told the court.
Magistrates were told Collins had been made the subject of a conditional discharge for cannabis possession on October 2012.
“He has been suffering from anxiety and depression for the last 12 years,” said defence solicitor Stephen Howells, “and is subject to panic attacks.”
Mr Howells described how Collins had also struggled to deal with the aftermath of being subjected to a brutal assault in his home four years ago which had left him requiring four operations and saw the removal of his pancreas and spleen.
He said Collins had been prescribed anti-depressants which had done little to address his problems.
“On this occasion he came into possession of these tablets which he thought were something else,” said Mr Howells.
“They calmed him down and controlled his panic attacks.
“The use of these drugs was primarily in terms of trying to alleviate these symptoms.”
Mr Howells said that since the offence, Collins had been prescribed more effective medication.
Collins pleaded guilty to possessing the Class C drug.
Magistrates fined him £40 for possession of phenazapam and a further £40 for breach of a conditional discharge.
Collins was also ordered to pay £80 court costs and a further £20 legal surcharge.
http://www.southwalesguardian.co.uk...lly_sighted_man__found__bag_of_drugs/?ref=rss
